Earlier this week I was in a building that has several different medical offices. This is a newer building with clean lines. But it was sterile looking and feeling, as I sought out where I needed to be, that I was almost scary. I was already nervous enough as it was. I was in a new town, new doctor and new buildings. All of those things had me on edge as I entered the building and look for my door. The only other people I saw were whispering, as if the bare white walls were sucking the sound out of the words.

How much nicer it would be to see a photo or two on the walls as you walk down the hallways. Something that might also give the building some character too. But more importantly something that would help people relax just a little as they look for their door in the sterile white wall. Perhaps a large photo on the wall at the end of the hallway? Or maybe just in a hint of color somewhere. Even the carpeting was a very pale shade gray. Nothing in that building was comforting or even welcoming.

I know I have talked about this before and will probably do so again in the future. Nature is a natural relaxer and healer. So let's start incorporating it into our medical settings. Let me see a flower or some trees on the walls. It might even lower my blood pressure. Who knows.